HALLIE EPHRON: With the holidays already fading in our rearview mirrors, some of us are still enjoying the treats our ever-so-thoughtful friends and family members knew we’d enjoy. For me, food says love, and it's the best gift ever.
Sadly I’ve polished off the last bite of smoked white fish that my daughter brought me from Zabars in Manhattan.
I am still eating (at this very moment as I type this) one of the Crawford’s Garibaldi biscuits she gave me, too–good but not as good as our own discontinued Sunshine Raisin Cookies but yummy nevertheless.
And I hope my son-in-law is enjoying the chocolate covered orange rind I made for him, and my daughters are still savoring the homemade granola (Lucy Burdette’s recipe) I made for them... and which they requested.
Are the holidays the time when you enjoy sweet or savory indulgences, and what’s at the top of your wish list to give or receive?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: A dear pal of mine sent a Kringle. Okay, I‘m sure you know all about these, butI had never ever heard of this, but it's an oval-shaped coffee cake thing, from Wisconsin. The one he sent was cinnamon and glaze. I thought, aww, that’s so kind. But–whatever, how good can coffee cake be?
Yikes yikes yikes I have NEVER had anything that good.
You know me, Reds and Readers, I can take or leave sweet and sugary things, but that Kringle had me dreaming of it. I finally cut it into individual servings and put them in the freezer to keep them from being so tempting.
Also indulgences? Latkes with sour cream. Tiny blinis with caviar and sour cream. Baked potatoes with, um, sour cream. AND a darling author pal (Lisa Scottoline) sent me a massive box of Philadelphia pretzels WITH special pretzel salt. You brush with oil, sprinkle on salt, and back. SWOONING.
LUCY BURDETTE: It’s become a bit of a tradition for me to make a yellow cake with caramel frosting over Christmas. There’s none left, of course, it was gone in three days. I also made two chocolate loaf cakes, one in California and one in Key West. And we had some friends over on New Year’s day, and our pal Pat Kennedy made her famous chocolate layer cake with white frosting. Cake Cake Cake, my favorite!
I’ve never heard of a Kringle and now I’m off to look it up.
RHYS BOWEN: We have long polished off the mince pies and sausage rolls I always make for the holidays. I am working my way through homemade cranberry cookies ( so yummy) and the real French macarons my granddaughter made for our present.
And so many people gave us boxes of chocolates that they should last until Easter! A friend who came for New Year’s Eve brought bagels and lox for the next morning. I've been enjoying them this week. But so much sugar and starch!
Now it’s back to grilled chicken and veggies.
JENN McKINLAY: What is this Kringle you speak of? Must go investigate!
I’m usually in a baking frenzy - cookies for everyone! - every December but this year a deadline blew it all up. I had no time. So my usual bad breakfast choices of cookies for the entire month did not happen. *Sigh* On the 24th, I managed to make a batch of peppermint bark, which I do every year.
There is still some left as I’m supposed to be watching my sugar intake and Hub is not a sweets guy. Whatever.
We do receive a lot of homemade goodies during the holidays, so that did tide me over - fudge, rocky road candy, a box of See’s - is it even the holidays if there is no See’s? I don’t think so.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Hallie, I saw a Zabar’s catalogue at Celia’s house, and you can order all their stuff shipped! I nearly gave myself a present of their bagels and schmear package.
I went to a cookie swap at a friend’s house. Did the cookies last until my kids arrived on Christmas Eve? No, they did not. I made some brownies for them. Otherwise, I didn’t get any foodie gifts this year. I need to see if the chocolate-covered cherries and the popcorn tins have been marked down at my grocery store!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Trader Joe's has Kringles but I've never bought one!! They are hugely popular (here's a review though, and next year I am trying one for sure!!
I usually do buy stollen at Christmas, because I love anything with almond paste, but this year I never got around to it. What I did pick up at Trader Joe's was a tub of their pistachio toffee, and it was delicious. When I went back for more, sadly it was all gone. They didn't have chocolate oranges this year, either, boo.
What I wish someone had gifted me was a box of Harry and David pears. Maybe I will treat myself now…
HALLIE:
AND as I was posting this, realized I haven't had my favorite fruitcake. So it's now ordered from Colin Street Bakery, my favorite, and introduced to me by one of the wonderfull commenters here at Jungle Red!
Are you extending the holiday with goodies, too? Or going on a diet and having a dry January? ("Bah, humbug!")
